[Dino] Brings the Waterproof Fire

For many of our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, the things we consider hacking, making, and doing weren’t just for fun. They were important skills that could help one survive. This week [Dino] shows us something his dad taught him: waterproof fire starters. The trick is paraffin wax. [Dino] starts by melting down some wax in a pot. He then dips strips of newspaper in the liquid wax. Several strike anywhere matches also get the wax treatment, are then placed on the newspaper. The newspaper and matches are rolled up into a tight bundle, which is itself dipped in wax several times.

The resulting small bundle of waxed newspaper and matches is safe and easy to carry in pocket or backpack. It also becomes the perfect wet fire starter. The “newspaper shell” is torn off into strips of waxed paper, which burns slowly and allows the tinder and wood to catch. [Dino] demonstrates his pioneering skills by starting a fire at the end of the video. When the inevitable zombie apocalypse hits, we definitely want [Dino] at the Hackaday compound.

Most farm and home stores in the US carry them. I picked up several large boxes of Strike Anywhere matches for about $1/ea. They aren’t the same formulation as the old school matches, but they still work well.

You can still make those using the strike-on-the-box variety ;) You just have to put the strike strips on the inside and don’t go near the thing for a while if it doesn’t seem to detonate after you throw it.

I would assume anyone who goes camping already knows about this. And is this really a hack? Mkaing waterproof matches the same way companies do? And whats next, a article on buying a block of magnesium, and some flint and steel?

If he is really dipping strips of newspapers in the wax, the rolling up the strips and dipping them again he is really working too hard – just roll up some newspaper into about 1 inch dia. roll – then tie the roll about every two inches with cotton string. Cut the rolled up newspaper between the strings. Dip each smaller roll in the wax, wait until the bubbles stop coming out then hang to cool. Quicker and easier. Light the string when you need fire.. If you are really having a hard day, cut the short roll a bit with a knife length ways to give some smaller corners for the flame.

Another way is to place the cotton ball into a plastic straw and seal the ends of the straw using a candle and pliers. To use it, simply cut a slit in the straw, pull out some cotton and light. A couple of these takes up even less room than a pill bottle.

Paper egg carton filled with sawdust – then fill each cup with wax until the sawdust is saturated. Works MUCH better than newspaper, and burns longer. You’ll want to use sawdust that’s coarse (i.e. not the fine powdery stuff) for this to be effective.

You better have your emergency situation somewhere reasonably warm if you want to be able to use those… If you’ve never had your hands be really really cold, trust me, they’re next to useless. Trying to peel a package like that apart with cold fingers would be pretty much impossible.

While watching the video, i thought that was the way he intended to light it.
Give it a knock with a rock or firewood, and it will selfignite.
As a kid, i did ths all the time with “normal matches” (the ones that require striking against the “box” to ignite).

One of my favorite Survivorman episodes was devoted to different ways of creating fire. Many of the techniques are mentioned here in the comments (e.g., steel woll and a 9V battery) but the most important thing I got from it was, if you’re going to be in a situation where this sort of thing may be necessary, prepare ahead of time.

Most of the finer hotels will send someone up to adjust the thermostat for you. I’ve never had to start a fire in a 5-star hotel to keep warm, but I’d imagine the all cotton wash clothes would make sufficient tinder.

Forget the cotton wash clothes. Place a broadsheet against the complimentary trouser press and short-fuse it. You’ll soon set on fire the service booklet and survive the bitter night, alive to savour the buffet breakfast.

The Buddy Burner is a similar idea. Fill an empty tuna can with a coil of corrugated cardboard cut to the same height as the can, then pour in melted paraffin wax. Leave a wick of upturned cardboard in the centre, and you can light it for emergency heat.http://www.justpeace.org/buddyburner.htm